projectABLE

Mary’s story- promoting independence and inclusivity

Posted on August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 by Evan Ellis

My name is Mary Micevska. I’m an employee with ConnectABILITY Australia. ConnectABILITY was established in 1990 when a group of community members and families came together to meet the needs of people with significant disabilities. Today we offer community based resources, facilities and services to people requiring high levels of support.

I started as a Community Support Worker when we were still known as Newcastle Community Access. Over my many years of experience within the disability sector I have enjoyed supporting some of the most marginalized members in our community.

Within our services we are able to provide participants with individualised day programs that address their needs and wants. Some programs include arts and craft, drama, cooking skills, living skills, travel training as well as a variety of other recreational activities. Our services provide access to parts of the community most people take for granted.

Initially I was employed in administration before becoming a community support worker. I started out with a good foundational knowledge of the disability sector. However I have also sought further educational and specialised training opportunities. This helps me better respond to the growing number of participants requiring support services in the community.

I grew up as a person viewed from the community as a minority. This made me realize early in life how little information and education was available about living with disability. Had my family, school or peers had access to programs, services or information that highlighted the importance of independence and inclusivity, I know it would have improved my quality of life as a young person.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is building a relationship with the participants and having the opportunity to see them succeed in a variety of activities. The services we provide enrich all parties involved, support workers, participants and the wider community.

The least favorable aspect of the work I do is the lack of appropriate funding and resources allocated to meet the needs of the disability community.

My participation in projectABLE has come through ConnectABILITY. High school students become better educated and informed about issues relating to people with disability in our community. Through the program participants with a disability share their stories and break down any antiquated stigmas or barriers between the mainstream and the disabled. We feel valued and empowered after sharing our experiences and try to motivate students to be the voices against discrimination in society.

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WANT TO TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND INCLUSIVITY? START WITH A PROJECT-ABLE WORKSHOP. CONNECT-ABILITY ARE HOSTING WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT TERM 3.

Maria’s story- asking the questions others don’t

Posted on July 30, 2015July 30, 2015 by Evan Ellis

My name is Maria Henao. I am the manager for person centred practice at Woodville Alliance.

What’s Person Centred Practice you ask? It’s about making sure our programs are tailored to the loves, passions and skills of our service users. It’s about the person receiving the services, not the organisation delivering them.

I look after the operational aspect of Woodville’s day programs. As we work primarily with young adults with an Intellectual Disability our activities are targeted at helping people build their independent living skills; to travel independently, cook independently and handle money independently. These are essential for going on to live more independently, to access work or study.

Woodville was my introduction into the disability sector. I graduated with a Bachelor in Psychology and a keen interest in intellectual disability. I applied for a Program coordinators role and that was where it all began!

During high school I wasn’t too sure what was out there. When we think about disability services we often think, “Oh, there’s only one job there -a support worker.” Although once I started at Woodville, I was working alongside accountants, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, physiotherapists. Disability Services is far more that front-line support – although this is an extremely important role – there are a lot of behind the scenes positions.

That’s one reason I like being part of projectABLE.

I want young people to know there are lots of options out there. You don’t have to settle for one role.What is common across different roles and job descriptions is a passion for people. The difference you get to make in the lives of others is amazing. It’s extremely rewarding.

A story to illustrate. When I first started I was working with a woman with autism. She also had high levels of social anxiety. She couldn’t go to her mail box. But we don’t focus with what she can’t do, or what she has difficulty with. We ask the questions people don’t usually ask, to gather as much information as we can.

What does she love? Well, she loves numbers. She loves swimming. So we spoke with her family and got her involved in bingo, gave her opportunities to swim. Slowly, over a year and a half we saw her confidence grow. She now has friends and participates in some of our community events.

This is what the sector offers. It’s a place where you watch someone you have assisted dance in a performing arts show, when previously they struggled to leave the house. A place where parents who immigrated to Australia, who lived in refugee camps, tell you your programs have changed their child’s life and that they’ve never been happier.

They say if you love what you do you never work a day in your life. How can you not love making such amazing differences to the lives of the people you support every day?

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WANT TO TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OTHERS DON’T? START WITH A PROJECT-ABLE WORKSHOP. WOODVILLE ALLIANCE ARE HOSTING WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT TERM 3.

Kathryn’s story- a purpose to get out of bed

Posted on July 24, 2015July 30, 2015 by Evan Ellis

My name is Kathryn Davies. I am a Personal Assistant at Challenge Community Services, Maitland. My role is a jack-of-all-trades position really. In any moment I might be answering mail, doing data entry, writing blogs, collating data for board reports, organising meeting agendas or supervising our Transition To Work (TTW) participants. Essentially I’m the office manager of our back of house.

I started working with Challenge three years ago. Here was an organisation that was making a difference in the disability sector and was a not-for-profit. Money wasn’t the driving force. Also I have young children so the job flexibility was attractive. I started permanent part time and was able to pick and choose my working days around childcare. Now I’m full time but the flexibility is still there. I can take time off in lieu, get rostered days off and am able to put aside pay to increase my annual leave.

Challenge is all about helping people in their daily life. It’s about giving people more opportunities and helping them voice what they want to do. The young woman I supervise as part of our transition to work program (TTW) is a prime example of this approach. This program is all about assisting young school leavers with a disability to develop skills and experiences so they can find a career.

When this woman originally started at Challenge she was shy and not very confident. In the beginning a TTW worker stayed with her during the workday and helped her build both her skills and confidence. Now? She is just beaming. She arrives on her one day a week with set tasks and works independently. During her time she has completed a Cert II in hospitality, gotten an RSA and is now out there looking for work. Her productivity is through the roof. It’s such a great thing to see a young individual come leaps and bounds in such a short time.

Things like work and being out there in the community are so important. It helps people feel needed. It contributes to their identity. It’s about having a purpose to get out of bed and be active. If you feel that you’re needed and that you’re contributing it just increases your well-being and improves your outlook on life.

2015 is the first year Challenge has participated in the projectABLE program. I want young people to know that with the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the sky’s the limit. The sector is going to be less tied to 9-5 work hours. Rather people with disabilities are seeking like-minded individuals to spend time with. This means that the sector is the place to follow your passions, like art, music, travel and to share them with others.

People with disabilities will be able to select the support that best suits them. Young people can still go off to uni and study on their set days but work in the sector on weekends and evenings. Listening to a concert, a trip to the pub or simply going to a movie. Work in the sector will look more like the activities people with disabilities are interested in.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t concerns about the NDIS. As someone with experience in running the administrative side of a service provider, I wonder how smaller organisations will adapt to the new system. But I’m excited that under the NDIS people with disabilities have the freedom to say, “Hey, this is what I want. You guys are there to assist me.” At the end of the day it’s about being positive, proactive and ensuring we get the best outcomes for people with disability. So I say bring it on.

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WANT TO HELP OTHERS CONNECT WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE? START WITH A PROJECT-ABLE WORKSHOP. CHALLENGE COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE HOSTING WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT TERM 3.